Kenya Power has demonstrated a commitment to inclusivity by awarding tenders worth KShs.609 million to youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the current financial year. This marks a significant increase from the KShs.244 million awarded in the same period last year, reflecting the company’s efforts to enhance access to government procurement opportunities (AGPO).
The company has set aside a total of KShs.1.8 billion for procurement in the current financial year under the AGPO initiative. Dr. John Ngeno, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics, attributes the increased uptake of AGPO tenders to the company’s proactive sensitization efforts aimed at educating special interest groups about available procurement opportunities.
During the current financial year, businesses owned by youth received the largest share of tenders, amounting to KShs.472.9 million, followed by women with KShs.135.5 million, and PWDs with KShs.646,700. Kenya Power has conducted sensitization workshops across the country, with recent workshops held in Mombasa and Kisumu, to further drive the uptake of AGPO tenders.
In addition to sensitization workshops, Kenya Power is collaborating with financial institutions to provide financial support to these groups, facilitating their participation in AGPO tenders. The company maintains relationships with leading financial institutions to offer tailor-made financial solutions to boost bidders’ capacity.
Kenya Power’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond procurement, as the company has also expanded its transmission and distribution network across the country, covering over 306,000 kilometers. As of December 2023, Kenya Power had over 9.5 million accounts, enabling over 76% of the country’s population to access the national grid.
Through these initiatives, Kenya Power aims to be Kenya’s energy solutions provider of choice, supporting the country’s socio-economic development through innovation and technology.